2027 Women's Softball Thread

[LonghornFan4Ever]

 With today marking the beginning of a new fiscal year for college athletics, might as well get a new thread going.

  

[HonkEm]

Mark this date/time on your Calendar

Texas showing out at the Alliance All‑Star Game again. Three Horns on the roster, Kayden Henry running the American squad, Ella McDowell leading the National team… that’s not an All‑Star Game, that’s a burnt‑orange takeover.

The Henry/Abdullah/Doty segment in the reveal show was outstanding. Kayden’s personality jumps off the screen, Abdullah carries herself like she’s already in the middle of the Texas lineup, and Doty looks media‑ready from day one. Softball America hyping our girls is just bonus points.

Aubrey Portie wasn’t a Texas volleyball commit. She played volleyball earlier in her athletic path, but she’s a Texas softball commit, period. Still impressive as hell that she switched her focus, climbed fast, and earned an Alliance All‑Star spot.

July 19. ESPN+. 6 p.m. ET. Texas fans might as well treat it like a spring game - half the broadcast is basically ours.

Edited July 2 by HonkEm

[LonghornFan4Ever]

Missing a few names, but this really puts it into perspective…

 

[HookemDTX]

26 minutes ago, LonghornFan4Ever said:

Missing a few names, but this really puts it into perspective…

You forgot Ashton Maloney

 

[HonkEm]

Don't know if permissable to post this(Horns247 Flagship Podcast) here...if not delete it.

But great interview with Mike White. 

Here's the article as well as the video.   https://247sports.com/college/texas/longformarticle/two-time-defending-national-champion-texas-softball-coach-mike-white-joins-the-horns247-flagship-podcast-288071437/#2838589

The idea of the opportunity to get two more seasons from star seniors Katie Stewart, the 2026 SEC Player of the Year; Teagan, center fielder Kayden Henry; infielder Viviana Martinez; as well as Arizona State senior catcher transfer Samantha Swan and Florida State senior infielder transfer Isa Torres caught my eye.

Edited July 3 by HonkEm

[Califashorn75]

Kevan and Katie will be superstars in the pro league.

[GoHorns1]

1 hour ago, Califashorn75 said:

Kevan and Katie will be superstars in the pro league.

But can the salary match the NIL?

[LonghornFan4Ever]

The AUSL won’t pay as much NIL, so I think most college softball players will play all five years before they go pro if that’s something they want to do after college.

[HonkEm]

17 hours ago, LonghornFan4Ever said:

The AUSL won’t pay as much NIL, so I think most college softball players will play all five years before they go pro if that’s something they want to do after college.

Good point....Kevan and Katie will absolutely thrive in AUSL, no question. But the league isn’t built to match what top players can pull in NIL right now. College is where the real money window is, so most of these elite kids are smart to ride out all five years, stack NIL, then jump to AUSL when it’s about career and exposure instead of the paycheck

[HookemTexas]

Staying in college also allows them to wait for the ausl to grow and possibly when they go pro the pay is better.

[HonkEm]

 

If you haven’t seen these yet, Brad Kellner has dropped a couple of really good Longhorns softball interviews:

Maddi Doty interview  

 

Stevie South interview 

 

Both are worth a watch - good questions, good pace, and you actually get real insight instead of the usual canned stuff

[HookemDTX]

35 minutes ago, HonkEm said:

 

If you haven’t seen these yet, Brad Kellner has dropped a couple of really good Longhorns softball interviews:

Maddi Doty interview  

 

Stevie South interview 

 

Both are worth a watch - good questions, good pace, and you actually get real insight instead of the usual canned stuff

Stevie may end up the jewel of this class with her ability to play every position except pitcher. Her bat and speed it will be hard to keep off her the field.

Edited July 5 by HookemDTX

[GoHorns1]

8 minutes ago, HookemDTX said:

Stevie may end up the jewel of this class with her ability to play every position except pitcher. Her bat and speed it will be hard to keep off her the field.

Probably completes  to start  in RF

Edited July 5 by GoHorns1

[HookemDTX]

5 hours ago, GoHorns1 said:

Probably completes  to start  in RF

Agreed. I've said for months that she will be our RF. But her versatility lets CMW change his lineup in many ways.

[GoHorns1]

40 minutes ago, HookemDTX said:

Agreed. I've said for months that she will be our RF. But her versatility lets CMW change his lineup in many ways.

Going to be some position competition during the fall with the talented freshman class.

[Califashorn75]

I am curious to see what they do to improve McCombs field. 

[LonghornFan4Ever]

Don’t let that disasterclass from the USA soccer team distract you from Leighann Goode hitting her first home run as a professional softball player!

 

[HonkEm]

26 minutes ago, LonghornFan4Ever said:

Don’t let that disasterclass from the USA soccer team distract you from Leighann Goode hitting her first home run as a professional softball player!

 

That's a lot better than this swing

https://x.com/AUSL_Volts/status/2074305849485385862/video/1

[Timberman]

27 minutes ago, LonghornFan4Ever said:

Don’t let that disasterclass from the USA soccer team distract you from Leighann Goode hitting her first home run as a professional softball player!

 

And against an Aggie of course.. 

[LonghornFan4Ever]

Reese Atwood feels right at home today!